Rotherham United: Skipper puts friendship to one side

JOHNNY Mullins, the Rotherham United captain, is determined to beat Morecambe this afternoon and claim bragging rights over Nick Fenton and Kevin Ellison.

The versatile defender is set to face his former Millers teammates at the Globe Arena but insists his friendship with the pair will be put on hold come 3pm.

Mullins told The Star: “I got on great with them both when Nick and Kev were here; they are both good pros who know the game inside out. Kev is a very lively character. He is a good lad and I really enjoyed playing alongside Fenners [Nick Fenton] at the back. I’m looking forward to seeing them both.”

“They will try to get one over on us and we can’t let that happen,” he added.

Last year, Rotherham battled back from three goals down to draw 3-3 at Morecambe and Mullins is under no illusions at the size of the task facing Steve Evans men.

“It was a very memorable game,” recalled Mullins, who can be deployed at right-back or centre-half. “I think we were three nil down after about half an hour.

“Morecambe is a very difficult place to go and their manager gets them right ‘at it’ but we are more than confident we can go anywhere and win. They have got some very good players so it will be a tough one.”

Meanwhile, club officials expect a crowd of more than 5,000 for the England women’s international friendly with Canada, which takes place at the New York Stadium tomorrow, kick-off 3pm. England beat Canada 1-0 three weeks ago in the final of the Cyprus Cup in Cyprus.

Denise Pickersgill, Rotherham’s Head of Supporter Services, said: “An international fixture isn’t an everyday occurrence in the area so the match really seems to have captured the public’s imagination.”

South Yorkshire has a successful background in women’s football and a couple of decades ago when the women’s game was starting to grow, Doncaster Belles were the best team in the country for some time.

For more ticket information, ring 08444 140737 or log on to www.rotherhamunitedshop.co.uk